Living with Hope

In this episode Pastor Kirk talks with two friends about two questions he's been repeatedly asked about the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Pastor Shauna Archer and Al Fedorak join Kirk to talk about about how to live with hope in light of what's happening in Ukraine.

Well this is the final in many ways. I am not going to be putting out weekly episodes for a bit (taking a break for my mental health). In this episode I share 4 tips of how I take care of my mental health and I share a rough poem that I wrote about a backpack. What!?! May God grant you peace in your journey through life and may your mind find rest in the knowledge and experience of Jesus Christ.

How do we have a sound mind and honestly what does that even mean? How do we reconcile struggles within ourselves with Jesus victory? I am not sure if I really answer these questions to an acceptable level but I try. Having a sound mind is not the goal of Jesus sacrifice but it is something benefited to us. Even if we don't fully experience it now Wholeness is ours in Christ Jesus. So let's rap up walking through Philippians 4:4-9.

What comes to your mind when you think about God? or about yourself? This week let's talk about who God is revealed to be in Jesus Christ and who we are in His sight. How we think about God impacts how we think about ourselves and if we can cling to the sure foundation of who we are in Christ and who we are because of Jesus resurrection. Our mental health may impact how we view ourselves in the moment but God is unshakable in His view of His adopted children. So let's chat about this. Focal Scripture: Philippians 4:8

Through Jesus resurrection we have been given peace with God as a gift of grace. How does this impact our everyday life and what does it mean to have peace with God if I don't have peace within my own mind? Tough questions and I am not sure that I have the answers for you. But, come and let's chat about my experience of discovering the "peace of God that surpasses all understanding" in my journey with depression and the cross. Focal Scripture: Philippians 4:7

How do we confront loneliness as a Christian? Because of the Resurrection Jesus is always with us and we have the indwelling of Holy Spirit who is our encourager. Let's Chat about the impact of loneliness on our mental health and how prayer is a gift for aiding in developing a sound mind grounded in Jesus. Focus Scripture: Philippians 4:6

Hey Welcome Back. So last week we talked about rejoicing in our identity that Christ has given to us and how this has helped me when I have struggled with a low view of myself in my depression. Christ is merciful to us and has new mercies each day. In fact his mercies meet us in our own journeys and there is not one size fits all to how Christ ministers to us. There is one Salvation, Spirit, Baptism, Communion and Body (Church) but the Holy Spirit walks along with us and ministers in us uniquely and compassionately. And it is a gentle care that we experience. So what does it mean to live Gently? That is the focus of todays podcast. How can we be gentle to others and ourselves as we care for mental health. Scripture Focus Philippians 4:5

Hey All, We are going to spend a few weeks in Philippians 4:4-9 chatting about having a sound mind. I have had a history of dealing with depression and I thought it would be healthy to chat about my views on being a Christian who struggles in the mental health department of life. So come along for a little ride through my mind, my past and how Christ is redeeming me in light of His grand mercies. Also you may learn a little about how to take care of your own mental health and how we can live victorious in amongst our weaknesses. Scripture Focus on Philippians 4:4

He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! What does it mean to live as a person of Easter? Did you know that the celebration of Easter stretches for 40 days to Ascension Sunday? We are to be celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ for a long time. In fact we can begin to live as people of the resurrection in everyday life. Living in light of the Resurrection. This Podcast is going to be the set up for the next series that we will be heading into. Next week I will be sharing a bit of my journey of mental health in light of Jesus resurrection.

Ever think about some of the traditions that you do during the Easter season? Did you know that cleaning your house or spring cleaning is actually a tangible practice that is connected to Easter? Some of the things that we do during this time are less intentional than putting up Christmas lights or wrapping presents for under the Christmas tree. But we can still develop intentional rhythms of preparation and celebration around Easter.

The Triumphal Entry, Palm Sunday, Jesus rides a colt. How can this day of palm branch waving and Hosannas prepare us for the week of weeks. The time of Jesus Victory and death. Join me as we enter into the transition week from Lent to Easter. Where we close up our time journeying with Jesus and become witnesses of His sacrifice living in light of His resurrection. So join me, Pastor Colin, as we sing Hosanna to the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Scripture Focus: Mark 11

We are so close that you can taste it. Maybe it is the chocolate you gave up or the coffee. No what we can taste is Easter. The joy of eternal life in Jesus Christ through His life, death, and resurrection. We will look at the account of Lazarus and what Jesus hinted at to His disciples through the resurrection of Lazarus. Scripture Focus: John 11:1-17

As we journey towards Easter we have learned that Lent is not a celebratory time but a reflective one. But there are glimmers of hope and beauty to behold as we journey. Healing. Healing of mind, body, and soul. The healing of Jesus that we receive because of His resurrection. This week we will chat about what it means to be a part of that healing and how it can impact every area of our lives. Scripture Focus: John 9:1-13, John 6:25-59, Luke 15:11-32

What does it mean to repent? Well it is a turning away from something and a turning to God. We often think of ourselves as one complete being that turns all at one time. When in reality we need to do a bunch of little turns in many different areas of our lives. The big turn is when we turn to Jesus as our Savior and then all the little turns are as we realize that He is also Lord. So we spend time submitting and repenting of all the areas of ourselves that we have not submitted to His authority. Lent is a great way to cast of the things in life to focus on the greatness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

As we journey through Lent we will face the desire or temptation to give in or faultier on the path. But Christ calls us to resist this temptation and to use what we have given up for Lent as a practice for facing greater temptations in life. We are called to practice the way of the cross. To pick it up and follow Jesus on our journey with him towards Easter. Scripture Focus: Mark 8:31-38, Luke 13: 22-35, John 3:1-17

How do you prepare for Easter? Most likely you wait until a lot closer to the day to start thinking about it. I want to invite you into a journey towards Easter Sunday that starts now. Lent is a time within the Christian calendar that encourages a time of reflection and journeying with Jesus towards the cross and the resurrection. Through the coming weeks we will discuss why people give things up for Lent, how it is a counter cultural exercise, and can enhance our Easter celebration. This week we will chat about how temptation plays a part in our Lenten experience and how we can foster a devotional focus during lent through the practice of self denial that begins and ends with Jesus. Scripture Focus: Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:9-13, Luke 4:1-13

Hey everyone this is the last podcast in our series on Spiritual Disciplines! Learning how to have a rhythm of learning for the rest of our lives. Learning about God, godliness, life and living. Really a great way to end the series. Also next week we will start chatting about Lent and what it means to prepare to celebrate Easter.

Have you ever had a great idea and then forgot what it was an hour later? Writing it down may have captured that thought for you. This week we will discuss how journaling is a spiritual discipline and where we see evidence of it in scripture. As well you will learn what WIDOLIFE means. (Hint it has to do with the question earlier)

Here is an interview of me, Pastor Colin. We are using it as a primer for getting back into the Spiritual Disciplines. In this episode Pastor Daniel interviews me for the youth leaders at Living Hope Alliance Church. So come along with us and catch a bit of Daniel's vision for the youth of Regina and how Spiritual Disciplines are helpful for Christians of all ages. Oh and you might learn a little bit more about me your host.

In November 2020 Living Hope Alliance Church spent time learning how to creatively engage with our community. During one of the Sunday morning services we showed a cut together video of two interviews. I wanted to share these two interviews with you in their entirety as a way of encouraging you to reach out to the people around you with the gospel. This one features Brett Austring. Brett is about the gospel and loving his neighbor as himself. This young man is a joy to converse with and is passionate about being the presence of Jesus in every space he finds himself in. I pray you are blessed to live with consistency in sharing the gospel through this interview with Brett.

In November 2020 Living Hope Alliance Church spent time learning how to creatively engage with our community. During one of the Sunday morning services we showed a cut together video of two interviews. I wanted to share these two interviews with you in their entirety as a way of encouraging you to reach out to the people around you with the gospel. This one features Charlie McIntyre who is an inspiration and embodies the saying if your alive then God is not done with you. I hope you are inspired by Charlie's passion for sharing the gospel and his love for people.

Welcome back to the Living With Hope Podcast. This week is a quick hit of Happy New Year and how to the future with God. Colin will also be giving an update about what to expect in the next 2 months from the podcast. We will have interviews in January and then back to finish up the Spiritual Discipline series in February. Isaiah 40:31, Psalm 90:12, and Philippians 3:13-14 are referenced in this episode

God's love for us is more than an emotion. It is a sacrificial love that wills goodness into our lives. Let's talk about the euchatastophy that is the Incarnation of love. Yes there will be a Lord of the Rings reference.

How do we talk about something that passes all our understanding? (Phil 4:7) This week we will talk about the euchatastophy of Jesus peace in our lives. Even though it passes our understanding we will continue to dwell on the worthy things of Christ (Phil 4:8). What do you think of when you think of peace?

This week as we continue our Advent series we chat about the euchatastrophy of Hope. How our Immanuel Jesus Christ is our hope. That no matter what we are facing He is not phased and that our hope in Him is as secure as the salvation and life that is only found in Him. Join me as we discuss Jesus Christ the Hope for all creation.

This Advent season as we journey towards Christmas day we will talk about how Jesus Incarnation is our eucatastrophe. How has God's arrival into our lives changed not only the moment but the trajectory of all of existence. We will focus on Joy, Hope, Peace, and Love and how Jesus breaks into our lives with each one of them as a eucatastrophe. Merry Christmas!

Today on Living With Hope I (Colin) chat about service. Wait how is serving and doing things a spiritual discipline? Well I think that you are going to have to listen to the episode to find out.

This week we chat about fasting. Of course Jesus is our Prime example of practicing fasting as well as our greatest teacher on the subject. A subject that is mentioned 77 times in scripture. So do you practice fasting or is it to foreign a concept. Join pastor Colin as he chats about fasting.

This week on the Living With Hope podcast Colin is joined by Dr. Christine Lett. She shares about how prayer has transformed and impacted every area of her life. We will chat about the impact of a legacy of prayer and how each one of us can live each moment in prayer. That the discipline of prayer results in a deepening conversation with our Heavenly Father.

This week on the Living With Hope podcast Colin is joined by Pastor Daniel to talk about Silence and Solitude. It is a great discussion on how we grow in godliness when we set aside time to be apart from the world and practice the presence of God.

How do we engage with worship as a spiritual discipline? Is it the over arching spiritual discipline that is expressed when we practice every other one? I am joined by Eric Miller to discuss worship and how it is expressed in all of life.

This week on the podcast let's discuss evangelism. Is it a spiritual discipline? Does practicing it help us grow in godliness? I think so as it teaches me to rely on God every time I talk to someone about all that Jesus has done for me. Join me in thinking about how the spiritual discipline of evangelism helps us live with hope.

We continue our look into the Spiritual Discipline of Bible Intake with meditation. The dwelling on scripture and approaching it to discover and application to the way we live or view the world.

Is there anything that takes more discipline than memorizing the Bible? I am joined by Michael Eldred this week to talk about why memorization is important and some helpful tips for implementing it into your Bible Intake.

In Episode 2 we start our dive into Bible Intake. This is the foundational Spiritual Discipline that impacts and strengthens every other Spiritual Discipline. Think of it as basic training. We will chat about different ways to take in the Bible and how they benefit us. The break down is we can read the Bible both internally and audibly, we can listen to the Bible being read out loud and we can study the Bible. This is not everything so we will continue this multi part look at Bible Intake next week.

Welcome to the Living With Hope Podcast. In this episode I am setting up why Spiritual Disciplines are important for living with hope and how they train us in godliness. Join me as we journey through 10 spiritual disciplines and how they are about being with God and not simply tasks to be done.